TMNT: Beauty and Dangerous (TMNT 2k12 OC fanfic)

Chapter 12: The Forest

My power has no access to this part of the Realm. Only ones that the Forest deemed worthy are allowed to cross through. But his mind and heart are too weak to pass through. He does not stand a chance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

   The siblings began venturing down the path near the forest up ahead. And according to Alex, their journey was nearing its end. The forest ahead was the only thing standing between the Hamatos and their final destination, a mysterious temple. They were all relieved about all these news, but in Leo and Mikey's case, something felt off. Especially considering that they have reached the entryway of the strange, wooded area. Alex stopped to face the forest ahead of him and his siblings, who backed him up. "Well, this is it." Karai said out loud.

  "What are we gonna run into next?" Mikey spoke up. "Another freaky assassin?" he wondered. "Or a weird shadow demon thing?" Raph added. "Hopefully no deranged soldiers of Temptress's." Donnie said. "All of those don't seem likely at this point, guys." Leo claimed. "But regardless, we should still be vigil on what's through there." he remarked, as the leader was met with some nods from the others. "Leo has a point," Alex added. "At this point, anything could be out here." the scarred turtle looked at the forest ahead with slight uncertainty.

   "You sure you're okay to do this?" Leo asked his brother with concern. "I'll have to be, Leo," Alex responded. "It's the only way to get to the temple." he urged. The royal blue-eyed turtle did not bother to argue with his brother. With Alex's guidance, he and the others have gotten this far, and being so close, there was no turning back now. "Okay," Leo sighed. "Let's get moving then." he instructed. With that, the six Hamatos then entered the forest, travelling deeper into the wood.

   The group continued down the path for several more minutes, all of which feel very wary of what could be waiting for them. Just ahead, something caught Donnie in his red-brown eyes. "Um, guys?" he spoke up. The five then looked to see the path now split into two different routes, much to Raph's disappointment. "Oh, this is just great." the hothead muttered. "Which way now, Alex?" Karai asked. The black-and-blue masked turtle looked between the two pathways; a look of confusion etched on his face. "I'm... not sure." Alex said slowly.


   "You're kidding, right?" Raph asked out loud. Alex only shook his head, consciously knowing that whichever response he'd give, the bright green-eyed turtle would most likely explode with rage. "There's got to be some type of sign to let us know which way to go." Raph huffed out. "I don't think it works that way, Raph." Donnie said, shaking his head. "Well, what do you suggest we'd do?!" the red masked turtle hollered. "Use your GPS?!" Raph screamed. "The atmosphere in this realm is messing with the cellular reception!" Donnie exclaimed. "In case you haven't noticed, Raphael, this place doesn't have the usual modern day technology!" he yelled. "Okay, that's enough, you two!" Leo said, getting between his brothers. "We need to figure out which direction to go."

   Karai, Mikey and Alex all watched in uncertainty as the three brothers began to argue amongst each other. "Are they always like this?" Karai whispered to the orange masked turtle. "Usually, Donnie doesn't get that involved in these Leo and Raph fights." Mikey responded quietly. "But the longer we stand around here, the more time we lose in being able to get home." Alex added. The kunoichi and freckled turtle both face the light forest green-skinned turtle. "You really think something's at that temple to stop the madness back home?" Karai asked. "I know there's something there." Alex responded, determination in his voice.

   Karai and Mikey looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders and proceeded to break up the fight between the three other Turtles. As Alex saw his siblings try to stop the fighting, he heard a faint noise from the left pathway. He walked over to the path nearest him and looked up ahead. The cerulean blue-eyed turtle took a moment to isolate the background noise of his siblings to listen closer to the strange sound. "Alexander..." the wind whispered to him. "H-Hello...?" Alex called out in a soft voice. He couldn't hear anything else after a moment, and Alex began to turn back towards the others, until it drew him back towards the path ahead. "Come..." Alex's cerulean blue eyes suddenly began to glow a bright blue as he faced the pathway yet again. He slowly began to walk away from the other siblings, who were unaware of the situation.


   The brewing argument between Leo, Raph and Donnie was finally put to rest thanks to Karai and Mikey's efforts. "And you guys can be at each other's throats once we get home." Karai stated as her three adoptive brothers finally settled down. "Yeah, we really should be moving by now." Leo agreed. "Alright, Alex-." Raph began right before he noticed that something was off. "Wait a minute, where did Alex go?! Again?!" he exclaimed frantically. The three other Turtles and Karai too noticed the sudden disappearance of the scarred turtle.

   Mikey then looked up to notice the trees on the left pathway starting to grow closer towards each other. He then noticed the familiar figure of Alex in the distance, much to his surprise. "Guys!" the baby blue-eyed turtle hollered, drawing his older siblings' attention. "He went through there!" Mikey said as he pointed at the left pathway. The others then noticed how the trees are beginning to block off that path, much to their horror. "Aw, shell!" Leo exclaimed. "We gotta go after him!" the blue masked turtle urged as he ran towards the pathway.

   The others were quick to follow pursuit. Leo was the first to jump through the small opening at the soon-to-be closed off path, with Mikey agilely jumping in from behind. Donnie, Raph and Karai then reached the blockade, which was narrowly open at that point. "None of us are able to fit through there." Donnie observed, worry drawn on his face. Karai's golden-brown eyes darted around the blockade in hopes to find an opening. Unfortunately, she could only find one high above her and the two other Turtles, and there was barely any time for them all to jump through before it was sealed shut.

   "There's only one way." Karai stated. Raph and Donnie both looked to see the kunoichi back away slowly, her eyes still gazed at the high opening. "Once I get close, you two push me up." she ordered. The two Turtles reluctantly looked at the opening slowly starting to close up. Raph and Donnie faced Karai again, nodded and positioned their hands for Karai to step on. The dark brown and blonde-haired girl then ran towards the two mutants and jumped onto their large hands. Raph and Donnie both made a collaborative effort to push Karai upwards, who was able to jump through the opening before it was sealed.

   On the other side, Leo and Mikey saw Karai jump down and land on one knee before them. "Where're Raph and Donnie?" Leo asked. "They're still on the other side," Karai replied as she stood back up. "There's no way to get them here now." she said. "Well, we can't just leave them here!" Mikey shrieked. "We'll be fine, Mikey!" a familiar voice hollered out from the other side. "Donnie?" Leo called out, rushing towards the tree blockade. "Hold on, we'll get you out of there!" he said as he nearly unsheathed his Katana. "No, you guys go find Alex!" Raph hollered urgently. "He could get himself in trouble!"

   Leo looked back at the path ahead of him, Mikey and Karai before facing the blockade again. "We'll find a way to catch up!" Donnie hollered. "Just go!" Raph added, hollering just as loud. Karai and her two adoptive brothers faced the path yet again before looking at the blockade one last time. "Okay, we'll go." Leo said softly, but still loud enough for Raph and Donnie to hear. The leader then ran off down the path with his adoptive sister and prankster brother. All three of them feared the worst if they didn't find Alex, but they could only hope that they find him alive at least.


   After a few minutes, Raph gripped onto one of his Sai and wedged it into the blockade. He began to attempt to pry open the blockade, but nothing seemed to happen. "Nothing's moving!" the hothead exclaimed. "Don, gimme a hand here!" Raph urged to the genius turtle. "Okay, but I think we might have better luck with this." Donnie said as he took out his Bō. He squeezes a latch that converts a top blade from within the staff and wedges it into the blockade. Both Raph and Donnie grip onto the Bō. "On my go, we push. Got it?" Donnie instructed.

   "Whatever you say." Raph said with a nod. "Okay, now push!" the purple masked turtle urged. With that, both Turtles used as much of their strength to attempt to pry open the blockade. Unfortunately to them, Raph and Donnie were surprised to find the blockade sealed shut. The next thing they knew, the blade from Donnie's Bō snapped clean off, and the two brothers stumbled on top of each other. They both rubbed their heads and took note of the broken blade sticking on the blockade, much to their disappointment.

   "Well, that didn't work." Raph said. Donnie then let out a heavy sigh. "If we didn't start arguing on which way to go, we wouldn't have Alex wander off... again." he remarked. "We can't just sit around and wait for the others to come back with him," Raph stated. "Especially since it's my fault he wandered off last time." the red masked turtle added as he punched the blockade to vent his anger. Donnie sat down, his back leaning against the blockade. "You're still beating yourself over what happened the other day, are you?" he asked his older brother.

   "Of course I am, Donnie!" Raph replied. "All that stuff Alex went through in his life, he doesn't deserve to go through hell like that." the hothead folded his muscular arms and sat down next to the gap-toothed turtle. "I just wish I could've been there for him." Raph finished as he let out a sigh. "All of us hope for the same thing, Raph," Donnie said. "But at the same time, maybe us not being there for him at the time was meant to happen." the genius theorized. Raph's bright green eyes darted over to Donnie, a look of confusion and uncertainty etched in his face.

   "It's just a thought, Raph." Donnie said, reading Raph's expression. "Alex's power situation is an entire mystery wrapped up in an enigma." he added. "And it doesn't hurt to think of certain things about it, does it?" Raph asked his younger brother. "You bet." Donnie responded. "But all we can do now is wait for something to happen." he added, beginning to twiddle his thumbs. The red masked turtle took note of his brother's nervous habit and looked at him. "You had to do just that while Alex looked for that healer, did you?" he asked. The purple masked turtle only nodded.

   Raph sighed and rested his hand over Donnie's hands, breaking him for the habit. "They'll be back, Donnie." the bright green-eyed turtle reassured. "Yeah, it could take a while, but we gotta keep our heads up." he added, but still maintained to have a reassuring response. Donnie looked at his older brother and sadly smiled. "Whatever you say, Raph." the genius said.


   Somewhere past the blockade, Mikey, Leo and Karai all walked through the path, searching for Alex. Each called out his name but was only met with their echoes. Soon, it began to be overwhelming for the three siblings, as they feared the worst for their missing brother. Suddenly, Leo caught something quickly moving past him and the others, much to his surprise. "What was that?" Karai asked the vigilant leader.

   "I'm not sure, but keep your eyes peeled everyone." Leo responded. He then took a few steps backward, only to feel something lightly breath down his neck. With a soft gasp, Leo turned to see a familiar figure stand before him. The Deer quickly leapt past the stunned blue masked turtle and began to run off. "Leo, was that Alex?" Mikey asked as he and Karai joined the leader's side. "No, but I think someone knows where he might be." Leo responded. Karai and Mikey only shrugged their shoulders before they quickly followed behind the older turtle.

   Deeper in the forest, Alex continued to slowly venture down the pathway in his trance-like state. He was currently unaware of the panic that his siblings endured since he wandered off. The black-and-blue masked turtle was also mindlessly unaware to where he was going, but the noise drew him in. Suddenly, some distant and familiar voices rang in the wood, all of which screamed out his name. Alex stopped dead in his tracks, blinked a few times and held his head. His eyes no longer glowed and he began to look around of his current whereabouts. "Guys...?" he whispered.

   Now relieved of his trance, Alex took a moment to hear the distant voices and gasped softly. He also took note that he was standing in the middle of nowhere, much to his panic. "No, no, no...!" the cerulean blue-eyed turtle muttered frantically. "Guys?!" he hollered as he began running around the forest. Alex breathed heavily as he ran around, calling out each of his siblings' name. Soon, Alex felt himself trip and land on the ground before him in a loud thud. A sharp ringing filled his ears as his head made sudden contact to the ground before him. The scarred turtle just laid on the ground, unaware of the three familiar figures running towards him.

   Alex's blurry vision became clear as he saw a worried Karai, Mikey and Leo before him, with the latter violently shaking the scarred turtle. The royal blue-eyed turtle's somewhat coarse voice broke and ceased the ringing in Alex's ears, as he finally heard Leo hollering out his name. "Alex?! Alex! Are you okay?!" the leader was practically hollering at his dazed younger brother. "L-Leo...?" he mumbled softly. The blue masked mutant helped Alex back up to his feet and looked at him with worry. "You really have to stop letting yourself follow into trances and wandering off." Leo said, almost in a sad chuckle. The black-and-blue masked turtle shook his head, trying to get his mind back to reality, and looked at Leo in slight confusion.

    "Wait... You're not mad at me for wandering off again?" Alex asked. Karai, standing behind Leo with her arms folded, only shrugged one of her shoulders. "It's kind of becoming the norm considering the supernatural stuff that's been going on." she said. The cerulean blue-eyed turtle awkwardly grinned as he nervously rubbed the back of his neck, and then he caught glimpse of a couple missing faces. "Where are Raph and Donnie?" he asked his siblings. "As soon as we saw you walking away, the forest started to close you out from us or something bizarre like that." Mikey replied.

   Alex then felt his eyes grow large again and began looking around the forest again. "After I snapped out of that trance, I saw something here before I went to look for you," he began to recall. "Maybe whatever was in this forest wants me to see something here." the black-and-blue masked turtle wondered. "But what about the others?" Leo asked, still worried about his brothers. "I think whatever I saw could help us get back to Raph and Donnie." Alex theorized. He began to run off before Leo grabbed his wrist.

    "Whoa there, little brother." the leader said. "If you're taking us somewhere, you're going to have to walk us there." Alex looked back at Leo and awkwardly broke the leader's grip on him. "Yeah, I guess I'm making you guys run after me." he said in a nervous chuckle. The scarred turtle then proceeded to the path ahead of him. Leo, Mikey and Karai, with a slim sense of uncertainty, followed behind.


    Alex, Leo, Mikey and Karai all traversed through the forest until they reached its heart. There was an open patch of field surrounded by trees of different shapes, all of which formed a circle around the field. "Okay, this is totally not cryptic or anything." Karai said out loud as she and her adoptive brothers looked around in awe. "There's not anything here that involves Temptress, is there?" Leo asked his younger brother with uncertainty. "It doesn't seem like it." Alex responded as he shook his head. "We should start looking around if there really is something here." the blue masked turtle said as he and the others began their search.

   Karai and Leo both noticed that the surrounding trees have a strange rune craved right into them. With his hypersensitivity, Alex noticed that there weren't any off presences of Temptress's forces or other enemies. Aside from that, he did feel a different type of energy that was unlike anything in the rest of the Spirit Realm. Mikey then took notice of a large slab, resting face down in front of the largest tree of the circle. Taking his nunchuck, and using one of his Kama to pry it up slightly, the freckled turtle wrapped it around the slab and pulled it with all his strength. He rested the slab by the tree, removed the chain and began inspecting it. "Hey guys! I think I found something!" Mikey hollered to his older siblings.

   Leo, Alex and Karai all raced over to Mikey's side and noticed the slab propped upward. "So, what the heck is that?" Karai asked openly as Leo knelt beside his baby brother. His royal blue eyes shifted as he skimmed through the context of the slab. "It looks like it's some type of writing, but I can't understand what it says." Leo responded. Alex looked at the slab closely and got between his brothers. "I can, actually." he said as he studied it. The mutant traced his light forest green finger over the text, quickly reading parts of it to himself. "It's some type of incantation, but I don't really know what it's for." Alex concluded.


   "You're kidding about that last part, right?" Karai asked, slightly frustrated. "I think it's intentionally unlabeled for protection," Alex replied. "This entire area has the strongest energy I've felt since this journey began." he added as he looked around the forest. "And Karai and I saw all those runes on the trees." Leo spoke up. "They're definitely all connected somehow." the leader said. "And I'm going to use that incantation." Alex finished, who was then met with stunned faces from the others. "Alex, are you sure-?" Leo asked his brother before he was cut off. "If this can help us regroup with Raph and Donnie, then I'm sure." the scarred turtle urged.

   The three siblings all nodded nervously and let Alex study the incantation again. The middle Hamato turtle sighed softly before standing up and pacing back towards the middle of the circle. He shut his eyes and began to mutter the incantation under his breath. Leo, Mikey and Karai then noticed all the runes on the trees glow a bright blue as Alex continued. The black-and-blue masked turtle began to feel the forest's power surge through his body and into his mind. His eyes began to glow bright blue when the last of the incantation was recited. Alex felt his entire body suddenly go numb as his eyes and the runes stopped glowing before he felt himself on the verge of passing out. Mikey was quick to launch himself towards Alex and quickly caught his older brother in his arms.

   Leo and Karai then rushed over to the two younger turtles. "What happened?!" the leader asked. "I don't know..." Alex responded before he sensed a presence nearby. Thick fog began to form around the circle, alerting the four Hamatos. After Alex regained his footing, he and the others were quick to draw out their weapons. They all looked around cautiously before they noticed three familiar figures emerging through the fog. "Even in another plane of existence, you cannot escape me." the middle figure's voice rang, sending a mutual chill down the teenagers' spines. What, or whom, stood before them was none other than Shredder, backed up by Tiger Claw and Rahzar.


   Upon this sight, Alex's cerulean blue eyes grew wide in horror. "No..." he mumbled softly. "That's... that's impossible...!" the young turtle began to back away slowly, fear beginning to take over. "How did you get here?!" Alex questioned in a shaken voice. The Shredder laughed coldly. "Wherever you go, I will always follow." he claimed. Leo looked to see his younger brother mindlessly walking away from the Shredder due to the paralyzing fear. He carefully rested his hand on Alex's shoulder. "Alex, don't give Shredder what he wants." the leader whispered quietly. "From what happened a few weeks ago, it's clear that he knows you're scared." Leo softly reassured.

   Alex took a moment to take in Leo's advice and shakily let out a deep breath. "You're right." he softly said with a nod. The cerulean blue-eyed turtle rejoined his siblings' sides and kept a tight hold on his blade. "Whatever it is that you want with me, I won't let you let you get away with it." Alex claimed, his voice still shaken. The three adversaries took note of the turtle's response. "Empty threats from one who keeps holding back." Tiger Claw laughed. "Indeed, Tiger Claw," Rahzar agreed with a low growl. "The fear consuming his soul will be his downfall."

   Karai took out a small kunai and glared at the three foes. "That's enough out of you." she said before tossing the small blade at the trio. Rahzar was quick to grab the kunai and tossed it back towards Karai. Mikey quickly jumped in front of the kunoichi and used his nunchuck to deflect the kunai. The mutant "You're gonna have to get through all three of us if you want our bro!" the orange masked turtle hollered. The mutant dog swiftly dodged the deflected kunai and growled at the freckled turtle. The Shredder quickly converted the blades of his gauntlets and stared at the four Hamatos. "We shall see about that." he claimed as he signaled the two mutants to attack.

   Tiger Claw and Rahzar charged towards the siblings, ready to attack. Mikey and Karai immediately went to fight Rahzar, and Leo was quick to notice Alex battling the Shredder, much to his concern. The blue masked turtle tried to rush over to his brother's aid, but he was quickly stopped by Tiger Claw. "Where do you think you're going, cub?" the one-eyed mutant feline asked with a growl. Leo gritted his teeth and attempted to strike Tiger Claw. The larger mutant was quick to dodge the turtle's attack, much to his frustration.


   Alex was locked in combat with the Shredder, each clashing their blades and blocking any lethal attacks. "You hesitate in battle, even after you have coped with your past." the Shredder stated, preparing to strike the scarred turtle. Alex was quick to block the attack with his blade and pushed away the assassin's gauntlet. "I've come this far, haven't I?" he quickly retorted. Shredder quickly regained his footing and looked at Alex, a fire burning in his eyes. "You have, but fear clouds your mind." he responded. The mutant quickly shook his head, refusing to believe anything Shredder said.

   "You're wrong!" Alex shouted. "I'm not afraid of you!" he urged in a still shaken voice. Shredder was quick to knock Alex down, pinning him to the ground. "You fear of being controlled, becoming something you are not meant to be." the ninja assassin said, watching the black-and-blue masked turtle struggle under him. Shredder glanced upward before facing Alex yet again. "You fear of losing your family." he said coldly. Alex then looked over to see his siblings fight the two hench-mutants. It wasn't long until Karai, Mikey and Leo grew exhausted of fighting their respective foes before the three were overpowered.

   Shredder then grabbed Alex by the strap and lifted him off the ground. "Soon, you will be powerless to defeat Temptress." the assassin claimed. He then threw the stunned mutant towards a nearby tree. Alex felt his carapace collide right into the tree before falling to the lush ground. The scarred turtle shakily tried to push himself back up before collapsing back to the ground. He looked to see his siblings also struggling to regain their stand, much to Alex's grief. "Your spirit shows great power and strength," the Shredder started as he slowly walked over to Alex. "But your mind must be cleansed of this darkness."


   Alex's eyes grew large upon hearing the last claim, remembering what he had to learn in the Spirit Plane. "Alex, you always fear your past." the turtle began to recall Splinter's words. "Like the rain, you must be gentle yet powerful in both mind and spirit." Alex then realized what he must do. He closed his eyes and began to fall in a meditative state. The three foes looked at Alex in bewilderment. Before the two mutants could intervene, Shredder held out his arm, signaling them to stand down.

   Alex began to take deep breaths, increasingly becoming calmer. The sound of thunder filled his ears, and upon the last exhale, his eyes opened to reveal them glowing bright blue. The entire patch of land began to rain, small droplets falling from the sky. Mikey and Leo shifted slightly as they felt the raindrops land and run down their skin. The two Turtles slowly sat up, with the younger turtle nudging Karai to get up. Once the dark brown and blonde-haired kunoichi sat up, the three Hamatos looked to see their brother.

   Alex, feeling the rain fall on him, slowly stood back and felt his fears wash away. It has always been hard for him to let go, but the cerulean blue-eyed turtle that it was the only way for him to heal from his past. The sound of the rain gently beating against the ground and the trees had soothed Alex in his relaxed state. Using his powers to retrieve it, the scarred turtle held the blade in his hands tightly as he stared down at the three enemies. Shredder then gave the signal to the two mutants to attack.

   Rahzar was the first to charge to attack, using his bone-like claws to try to slash Alex. The turtle, however, was quick enough to dodge the mutant dog's attacks. Tiger Claw also attempted a similar attack to the lone Hamato in combat, but he too was being evaded. Mikey looked at his brother and began to take note of the situation. "Guys, we gotta help him take these Foot goons down!" he urged his older siblings. "I don't know, Mike. It looks like he has it under control." Karai insisted. "Maybe, but we can't just stand around and do nothing." Leo added. At that point, the three siblings were in agreement, drew out their weapons, and charged into battle.

   Mikey whipped out his nunchuck and quickly converted it to a Kusarigama. He then threw the chain around Rahzar, proceeding to run in circles to wrap it tighter around the mutant dog. Alex looked over at his baby brother, sheathed his blade and nodded to him. The two brothers then gripped onto the chain and, with their combined strength, collaboratively pulled and swung Rahzar into a tree, rendering the mutant unconscious. Alex then looked to see Tiger Claw draw out his sword and charge to Alex, ready to finish him off.

   Suddenly, Leo jumped between the two mutants and blocked Tiger Claw's incoming attacks. "Charge me up here, Alex!" the royal blue-eyed turtle called out. Alex nodded, created two aura spheres in his hands and fired them at Leo's Katanas. The leader looked to see his blades charged with spiritual energy and used them to push away the mutant feline. Tiger Claw was taken aback by his new opponent's move and struggled to keep his balance. Leo then sheathed both of his Katanas, and with a running start, jumped and kicked Tiger Claw in the gut, sending him flying backward and hitting a tree.

   Alex then looked to face the Shredder; the only foe left standing of the bunch. Karai then walked over to her adoptive brother's side and looked at him as the thunder boomed louder. Both siblings nodded and drew out their blades as they charged at the Shredder. The three were locked into combat, with the assassin hopelessly blocking his two former soldiers' attacks. The golden-brown eyed girl struck down her supposed father and pressed her foot to keep him grounded. Karai then pointed her tanto at the Shredder's masked face.

   "Karai..." the Shredder pleaded softly. "You wouldn't finish off your own father, now would you...?" he begged, almost in a menacing taunt. Karai then stared down at the Shredder angrily and eventually sheathed her blade and stepped off the assassin. "You never were my father, Saki." the kunoichi responded coldly. "But I'm not the one to determine your fate." she finished as Karai glanced at Alex. The black-and-blue masked turtle then stepped towards the Shredder; his blade still drawn out. Karai only stepped away from the two as she saw Alex raise his weapon above his head. Letting out a loud holler, the scarred turtle began to swing down his blade.


   To everyone's surprise, Alex dropped his blade mid-swing and looked down at the Shredder. His eyes stopped glowing bright blue and the entire forest stopped raining. The mutant only stared at his feared adversary with burning cerulean blue eyes. "No, I won't finish you off." Alex said. "Killing only gives you what you want from me." the turtle picked up his blade and sheathed it back into its holster. He then stepped away from the Shredder and deeply sighs. "I know why you wanted to control me in the first place." Alex began to explain. "Not only you'd want me to return being your loyal soldier, but with my power, you'd make me the leader of the Foot once you pass on." the mutant tightly gripped on the handle of his blade.

   Alex eventually calmed himself but kept a stern gaze at the Shredder. "My destiny is never with you." he finished as the mutant turned away from his enemy. Leo and Karai all gave a soft smile as they saw the black-and-blue masked turtle rejoin them. Mikey felt a much wider smile grow on his lime green face and proceeded to throw his arms around his older brother. "You did it, Alex! You defeated Shredder." he said cheerfully. "I guess I have..." Alex responded with a slight chuckle. Leo smiled warmly upon the sight, and his royal blue eyes suddenly caught something that may ruin the moment. "Uh, Alex?" Leo said, pointing behind his scarred brother.

   Alex only glanced slightly to see Shredder had regained his footing. He broke the hug from Mikey, took out a shuriken and threw it at the assassin. To everyone's shock and horror, the Shredder had caught the throwing star before it could pierce his skull, but his eyes remained shut. The three turtles then noticed Tiger Claw and Rahzar's forms vanish into streams of bright blue energy that retreated into two of the runes on the trees. "What just happened?" a stunned Karai asked out loud, who also looked over. "Congratulations, Alexander," Shredder's voice spoke up. The four Hamatos turned to face the assassin, who opened his now glowing bright blue eyes. "You have passed your test." the Shredder look-alike said.


   "Wait, what test?" Leo asked the figure that resembled the Shredder. "The test was for Alexander to prove himself worthy to pass through this Forest." the not-so evil doppelganger explained. "And who are you exactly? Why do you look like the Shredder?" Mikey interrogated. "I am the Guardian of the Forest," the look-alike replied. "And the form you see is what Alexander chose to see me as." the Guardian handed the shuriken back to the confused Alex. "How is that possible?" the cerulean blue-eyed terrapin asked. "The incantation allows the individual to open their mind to the Forest, and it read into your past and fears." the spirit explained. "The Forest also sensed you three there, allowing its power to convince your minds to see me as Oroku Saki." the Guardian finished, turning to face Leo, Mikey and Karai.

   "So, what happens now that Alex passed this test?" Karai asked. "Now Alexander can complete his quest." the Guardian responded. The spirit gestured to the pathway now opening up, which lead out of the forest. Alex looked up ahead but stopped himself before he took his first step. "I can't..." he said softly. The Guardian joined the black-and-blue masked turtle's side, raising a brow at him. "My siblings and I have come too far, and I won't finish this quest leaving them all behind." Alex told the spirit.

   The Guardian looked to see Leo, Mikey and Karai rejoin Alex's side. "When Alex was lured here, the three of us were only able to reach to him before the others were closed off." the leader explained. The spirit looked at Leo in the eyes and nodded. "I will see if I can do something." the Guardian said and proceeded to the middle of the circle. The four Hamatos looked to see the alleged double of their enemy kneel to the ground and rest his hand onto the ground. The spirit began muttering something softly and a stream of light began to stretch down the path leading towards the two absent brothers' location. Alex, Leo, Mikey and Karai all watched in amazement as the Guardian performed his spell. The spirit regained his footing and turned to face the four. "Your remaining brothers will be here shortly." he stated, much to the Hamatos' relief.


   Moments later, the five were met with the sound of frantic panting and running and looked to see Raph and Donnie, just as the Guardian had promised. Both Turtles took a minute to catch their breaths and looked to see the others, along with the Shredder look-alike. "Guys...?" Donnie huffed out. "What's Shredder doing here...?" he asked. "We'll explain everything on our way out." Leo replied with a slight giggle. Raph only rolled his eyes slightly and looked to see Alex, relieved that he's okay. "You gotta stop doing that, you knucklehead." the hothead said with an exhausted huff and laugh.

   "I won't have to, because the end of this quest is just ahead." Alex declared as he showed the open pathway to Raph and Donnie. "Well, that's a relief." the red masked turtle said as he and the genius turtle rejoined the rest of their siblings. The Turtles and Karai then proceeded down the path out of the Forest, with Mikey explaining everything in elaborative detail. Alex turned to face the Guardian and bowed his head. "Thank you, Guardian." he said before turning back towards his siblings.

   The Guardian looked at Alex and rested his hand on the turtle's shoulder, stopping him. "Alexander," the spirit addressed. The scarred turtle turned to face the Guardian one last time. "I hope you find whatever it is you look for at the end of your quest." he said to Alex. The mutant only nodded and smiled at the Guardian. Alex then turned back towards his brothers and ran back over to them. The spirit watched as the six Hamatos leave as he vanished in a flash of blue light.